Kyocera to Increase Solar Cell Production to 500 MW

Kyocera Corp. announced on April 18, 2007 that it plans to triple its present solar cell production to 500 megawatts by fiscal 2010 to meet burgeoning world demand.

Having secured a stable supply of silicon, the company plans to invest 5 billion yen (about U.S.$ 43.1 million) annually from fiscal 2007 through 2010 in equipment for its Shiga Yokaichi Plant, which manufactures solar cells, essential parts for solar modules. As a result of making a total investment of 20 billion yen (about U.S.$ 169 million), the annual production capacity of the plant will increase to 500 megawatts in fiscal 2010. This figure is equivalent to building 3.7 kilowatt solar systems for 135,000 new homes each year.

To quickly meet increasing demand, the company has established local production and supply systems of solar modules in Japan, Europe, US and China, the four largest markets in the world. It also plans further investment of a total of 10 billion yen (about U.S.$ 84.7 million) in equipment to enhance production capacity in these markets.

Kyocera shipped a cumulative total of 760 megawatts of solar cells from 1975 through 2006. When it realizes 500 megawatts of production capacity in fiscal 2010, the cumulative total will expand to 2.16 gigawatts. This is equivalent to a reduction in annual oil consumption of about 280,000 kiloliters, or suppressing CO2 emissions through the afforestation of 2,100 square kilometers of land, a land area about the size of Tokyo.

http://global.kyocera.com/news/2007/0403.html
- Japanese Solar Market to Grow 30-40% a Year until FY2008 (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/db/1291-e
- Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to Mass Produce New Solar Cells (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/db/1387-e
- Sharp Expands Solar Cell Production Capacity to 600 MW Per Year, World's Highest (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/db/1613-e
- Honda Enters Solar Cell Market (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/db/1657-e
- Sharp Doubles Solar Module Production Capacity in UK (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/db/1734-e

Posted: 2007/08/17 06:44:29 AM
Japanese version